5 things other manufacturers should learn from Apple

Apple stands at the pinnacle of the smartphone food chain, even though its crown has been taken by Samsung, which now sells more devices. The reason? No manufacturer has the fame and status that Apple has earned through the years.

The iPhone changed the world, and so did every other popular Apple product. The Cupertino giant sets standards in every market it sets its heart to, whether you like it or not. Who hasn’t compared a phone to an iPhone? Or a laptop to a Macbook? Who hasn’t owned an iPod? Even silly little Apple TV was the main competitor in smart TVs for a while.

How does Apple do this? Well, they are definitely a unique company and have more than a few cards up their sleeve. Let’s see how they beat others, as a manufacturer.

Disclaimer: Now I know many of you will aim right on my throat on this one. Let me tell you I am no Apple fanboy. This post is part of a series of articles we have been preparing for you. The goal is to bring consciousness, and we simply couldn’t leave Apple out of it. We also have posts on HTC, Motorola, Samsung, LG, Xiaomi and OnePlus.

A design to be proud of

Apple has always been about design. Their phones are always sleek and made of premium materials, offering a certain level of elegance that can’t quite be replicated. Their phones have gone as far as becoming a status symbol, of sorts.

The iPhone 6 comes with an all-metal body and thin profile, with a single button adorning the phone’s front side. Some would go as far as calling Apple’s designs works of art. Is it? That is a subjective matter, but I can tell you they make very sexy devices. That’s for sure. And that applies for all their devices, not just smartphones.

Simplicity at its simplest

There is nothing confusing about Apple devices. They work well, and they have nearly no learning curve. You can give anyone an iPhone or iPad and expect them to be able to find their way around in minutes.

The experience just makes sense. You have your home pages, which you can swipe to and from. The little icons are apps, and the settings are very well organized. You just can’t get lost. This is why kids learn to use iPads before they even learn to read!

Some of us geeks may like the complexity of Android, the security of BlackBerry or the convenience of Windows Phone. The moms, dads, grandfathers and other general users? They want the simplicity of iOS. “It just works”.

Unparalleled customer service and experience

There is one thing we can all attest to – Apple is king of customer service. Is something goes wrong, they will fix or replace your device right away. Customer Service representatives are always welcoming and very personable. They promise quality and stand by their products.

I have never had a bad experience when dealing with Apple customer service. This is because the company crafts not only devices, they crafts experiences. Apple makes it so that your experience with their products is smooth and simple.

From the time you walk into their store to the time you unbox your device, and even when you need to deal with a replacement, Apple aims to make sure you are pleased. And you can really see the fruits of their efforts.

Focus more on people than you do on tech

Of course, technology is at the bottom of every single one of these products, but that is not where a manufacturer should have its final focus. As geeks, we often get ingrained on specs and numbers, but is that really what most consumers care about?

No. People want something personable that works well, is good-looking, doesn’t lag and is simple to use. Since the beginning, Apple had its target audience very clear. Their consumers are the average joe. The moms and dads, as well as the kids and teens.

And Steve Jobs represented that “average joe”. His team made products that he liked. If he wasn’t proud, or willing, to use something, it simply wasn’t good enough. They aim to translate high tech into common language. That is what the “Apple Magic” is all about.

Edgar has been a tech blogger for over 3 years. Gadgets have become his life, so you can be sure he is always writing or sharing his thoughts around here. Unless he is off shooting arrows or on adventures, of course.